Device for spacing the rail-sections of a railway-track.



W. B. SKINNER.

DEYICE FOR SPAQING THE RAIL SECTIONS OF A RAILWAY TRACK. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. 1913.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wi bwaooeo v W. B. SKINNER. DEVICE FOR SPACING THE RAIL SECTIONS OF A RAILWAY TRACK. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. I913.

Patented 001;. 26, 1915.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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- 7 AWQW W WILLIAM B. SKINNER, F CASTOR, LOUISIANA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. ac, teas.

Application filed November 18, 1913. seriallt'o. 801,597.

of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Spacing the Rail-Sections of a Railway-Track,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to improvements in devices for suitably disposing or spacing the rail-sections in laying a railway track,

end to end, as in providing for expansion and contraction, as well understood.

The object of the invention is to carry out the aforesaid purpose in a simple, expeditious and efiective manner.

Ihe invention therefore consists of certain instrumentalities and features of construction substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and defined by the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, wherein it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made as to the detailed construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and in which draw1ng:-

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of my invention, the ends of the rail-sections being shown at differently spaced apart positions. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the device. Fig. 4 is a View taken sectionally through a rail-section and showing the device or invention in end elevation and its manner of attachment to the rail-section. Fig. 5 is a detached side of the contrivance.

In carrying out my'invention, I provide suitable frame-like members or brackets 1 preferably of the construction as disclosed the same being duplicates, each forked or bifurcated as at 2 to enable the same to be placed astride' the rail-sections, the bifurcated or forked ortions 2, themselves being also laterally bi urcated to form, in connection with the aforesaid bifurcated portions, legs 3 rendering the brackets skeleton-like in outline and light for facility'handling.

A right-handed and left-handed threaded screw 4 is itself threaded into orifices or apertures 5 in the longitudinal plane, in the brackets or members 1,'the walls of which orifices or apertures are correspondingly screw-threaded for cooperating with said screw as it is actuated for causlng said brackets ormembers to approach, or recede .from each other according to the direction of manipulation of the screw, and whereby itwill be readily appreciated that, with the brackets bolted as at 6 to the rail-sections, the latter will be caused to be correspondingly moved with respect to each other endwise for suitably spacing the same as condit1ons mayv requlre 1n obeylng the laws of expansion and contraction. Suitably remforced, enlarged or thickened, as at 7, said screw may be conveniently actuated by a hand-spike or bar (not shown) inserted into sockets or orifices 8 extending through the reinforced or enlarged portion 7 of said screw as in performing the rail-section spacing operation.

This device afiords a convenient means for carrying out its intended purpose with facility and with but little effort or labor, as is a parent.

aving thus fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A device of the class described comprising bracket members bifurcated longitudinally and transversely whereby to provide a plu-.

rality of leg portions thereon, the upper portions of said brackets being convexedly curved, means extending through the leg portions to secure the same to rail sections, the opposed faces of said brackets being provided with oppositely threaded openings, a double screw threaded oppositely at its ends and engaged with the openings in said brackets and an engaging member formed centrally of the screw.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. SKINNER. Witnesses:

J. W. CAMPBELL, .I. T. HUCKABAY, .Ir. 

